|
|
132. Thomas Forsythe, Jr., born December 23, 1791 in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; died January 18, 1872 in Davis County, Iowa. He was the son of 264. Thomas Forsythe, Sr. and 265. Nancy Parker. He married 133. Elizabeth ? Abt. 1811 in Pennsylvania.
|
|
Notes for Thomas Forsythe, Jr.
There is no known link at this time between this Forsythe family and the John and Elizabeth McKinley Forsyth family above, other than through the marriage of William Forsyth of the above family and Mary Ann Forsythe of this family. After his father died, Thomas, Jr. appeared to become rather restless. He is found in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania in the 1810 census (page 235). Although he comes of age in 1812, he is not found in the Tyrone Township tax lists until the tax years 1817, 1818 and 1819 (FHL film #1449318 - Fayette County, Pennsylvania Tax records of Tyrone Township, 1785-1855) and then disappears from the tax list again after those dates. His entries identify him as a laborer, and a renter rather than land owner. Each of the three years he is shown on a rented 40 acres with the 1818 entry showing him with a grist mill. In 1820 he and family are found in Pleasant Township, Brown County, Ohio (page 383) where his brother John moved, probably immediately after his father's death. In 1830, it appears he and family are located in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (page 196). In this census there is no son enumerated the age of John, but at age 17 it is possible he was apprenticed out to learn a trade (in the 1850 census, John is shown with occupation of potter). In 1840 Thomas and his family are found in the next county to the east, Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (page 264). It appears that son John is living with them, along with his wife and young daughter Eliza Jane. In 1850 Thomas, Jr. and John are found in neighboring households in South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (281A) where Thomas is identified as a farmer with real estate valued at $500.
The grave of Thomas, Jr. has a star identifying him as a veteran of the War of 1812. It is very possible the listing found in the Pennsylvania Archives Series 6, Volume VII, Chapter: Miscellaneous Rolls, Fifteenth Division 1812-1814, page 790 contains Thomas in the roster. Private Thos. Forsythe is among the returns of the "First Rifle Company Attached 125th Regt. Who Volunteered Their Service." The unit consisted of 42 privates guided by Captain James Scott, Lieutenant John Cochran, and Ensign Petter Beddsworth. A footnote to the listing stated "30 of the above Roll in uniform and Armed with Rifles & Tomahawks." A number of the members of the company had names found only in the Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County neighborhood in the 1810 Pennsylvania census, including Henry Bruce, Jesse Waddle, Arther Mullen, Zadock Wilson, Hugh Drennon, John Pangburn, Aaron Applegate and Petter Beddsworth. Richard T. Wiley, in his book "Elizabeth and Her Neighbors", 1936, republished by Closson Press, Apollo, Pennsylvania seems to agree. He wrote:
|
|
"Samuel Cooper, himself an officer in the War of 1812, whose contributions to local history are quoted in a number of places in this work, wrote for the 'Elizabeth Black Diamond,' dated February 21, 1874, as follows:
"There was a fine company of riflemen raised in the Forks, in the neighborhood of Round Hill meeting house, bearing the blazing name of 'Round Hill Hornets.' They joined the celebrated Brigade of Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanded by memorable General Tannehill and the company commanded by the celebrated Captain James Scott of the Forks of Yough. The Brigade was marched to Black Hawk (sic), and when ordered by Brigadier-General Alexander Smyth, U.S.A., to cross into Canada, lo and behold! the sight of the scarlet coats made the hornets lose the virtue of their sting, and they swarmed in a very few days for their nests in the neighborhood of Round Hill. This swarming homewards killed them up. Who was blamed for this disgrace? The living survivors of the company, if there be any, can tell the tale. I know it, my company being attached to the Brigade at that time, which company to a man volunteered to cross into Canada twice."
|
The name Captain James Scott seems to confirm the thought this company was formed in Elizabeth Township. By Black Hawk, I am certain he meant Black Rock. Given a couple of names, Tannehill and Smyth, as well as the location in the article it was possible to find some information from various sources, sometimes with different points of view:
|
|
From "History of Pittsburgh and Environs", George Thornton Fleming, American Historical Society, Inc., New York, 1922:
"Erie being threatened by the enemy from the lake, the governor ordered the rendezvous at Meadville of 2,000 militia with the design to protect the coast. A large American force began to collect at Fort Niagara for the protection of Western New York. The Allegheny county militia at this time consisted of 1,050 men, and under the call for volunteers 331 were accepted and detailed to go to the Niagara department. Companies from other counties in Western Pennsylvania commenced to arrive in Pittsburgh, in all twenty-two, and were moved to Meadville, and thence to Buffalo for orders.
"The Pittsburgh contingent that were detailed from Meadville, to become a part of the army of Western New York, performed service attended without much glory or honor. The battle of Queenstown was fought in November, 1812, without the aid of the Pennsylvania Militia, which, under the command of General Tannehill, was still at Meadville, destitute of proper arms and equipments. The companies from Pittsburgh, commanded by Captains Cooper and Lithgrow, were not only willing, but desirous of crossing the river to engage the British; but a dispute between the American generals caused the attempt to be relinquished and the American troops were ordered to disembark. This was accomplished with many murmurings and much discontent. Excitement prevailed over the failure to cross the river, and about four thousand men without order or restraint discharged their guns in every direction. Succeeding these events the Pennsylvania militia under General Tannehill deserted almost in a body, returning home in squads.
"In the last years of the war, Pittsburgh played but a small part."
From "Pictorial Field-Book Of The War Of 1812" by Benson J. Lossing, Harper & Brothers, New York, 1896:
"...General Smyth expressed his opinion to General Van Rensselaer, on his arrival on the frontier, that the proper place to cross the Niagara River for the invasion of Canada was somewhere between Fort Erie and Chippewa. A few days after the bombardment of Fort Niagara, Smyth attempted to act upon that opinion. His proclamation had stirred the people of Western New York, and large numbers had flocked to his standard; for his flaming sentences warmed their zeal, and they believed that all his glowing hopes would be realized and his flattering promises would be fulfilled. On the 27th of November, when Smyth called the troops to a general rendezvous at Black Rock, they numbered about four thousand five hundred. They were composed of his own regulars, and the Baltimore Volunteers under Colonel Winder, the Pennsylvania Volunteers under General Tannehill, and the New York Volunteers under General Peter B. Porter. With these he felt competent to invade Canada successfully.
"As early as the 25th, General Smyth issued orders for 'the whole army to be ready to march at a moment's warning.' 'The tents,' he said, 'will be left standing. Officers will carry their knapsacks. The baggage will follow in convenient time.' After giving directions for the embarkation of the troops in the boats provided by Colonel Winder, to whom that important service was intrusted, he gave the following directions for forming the troops in battle order on the Canada shore: 'Beginning on the right, as follows: Captain Gibson's Artillery; the Sixth and Thirteenth Infantry; Captain Towson's Artillery; the Fourteenth and Twenty-third Infantry as one regiment; Captain Barker's and Captain Branch's Artillery; the Twelfth and Twentieth Infantry; Captain Archer's Artillery; General Tannehill's Infantry; a company of Riflemen; the Infantry of Colonel Swift and Colonel M'Clure; a company of Riflemen; General Porter's Infantry; Captain Leonard's Artillery; a battalion of Riflemen on each flank, in a line perpendicular to that formed by the main army, extending to the front and rear.'
"Tomorrow came, but not the promised achievement. All the officers disapproved of the time and manner of the proposed embarkation, and expressed their opinions freely. At General Porter's quarters a change was agreed upon. Porter proposed deferring the embarkation until Tuesday morning, the 1st of December, an hour or two before daylight, and to make the landing-place a little below the upper end of Grand Island. Winder suggested the propriety of making a descent directly upon Chippewa, 'the key of the country.' This Smyth consented to attempt intending, as he said, if successful, to march down through Queenston, and lay siege to Fort George. Orders were accordingly given for a general rendezvous at the navy yard at three o'clock on Tuesday morning, and that the troops should be collected in the woods near by on Monday, where they should build fires and await the signal for gathering on the shore of the river. The hour arrived, but when day dawned only fifteen hundred were embarked. Tannehill's Pennsylvania Brigade were not present. Before their arrival rumors had reached the camp that they, too, like Van Rensselaer's militia at Lewiston, had raised a constitutional question about being led out of their state. Yet their scruples seem to have been overcome at this time, and they would have invaded Canada cheerfully under other auspices. But distrust of their leader, created by the events of the last forty-eight hours, had demoralized nearly the whole army. They had made so much noise in the embarkation that the startled enemy had sounded his alarm bugle and discharged signal-guns from Fort Erie to Chippewa. Tannehill's Pennsylvanians had not appeared, and many other troops lingered upon the shore, loth to embark. In this dilemma Smyth hastily called a council of the regular officers, utterly excluding those of the volunteers from the conference, and the first intimation of the result of that council was an order from the commanding general, sent to General Porter, who was in a boat with the pilot, a fourth of a mile from shore, in the van of the impatient flotilla, directing the whole army to debark and repair to their quarters. This was accompanied by a declaration that the invasion of Canada was abandoned at present, pleading, in bar of just censure, that his orders from his superiors were not to attempt it with less than three thousand men. The regulars were ordered into winter quarters, and the volunteers were dismissed to their homes."
From "Citizen Soldiers in the War of 1812" by Carl Edward Skeen, University of Kentucky Press, 1999:
"Meanwhile, 2,000 Pennsylvania militiamen called out by Governor Simon Snyder on August 25 to rendezvous at Meadville on September 25 moved tardily toward Buffalo. Governor Snyder pointedly noted in his call that the patriotism of the volunteers was 'too sincere and ardent to permit them to make any objections to crossing the boundary line of the United States; otherwise they will render no service to their country.' Smyth asked General Dearborn on November 9 whether the Pennsylvania Militiamen could be forced to cross the line. 'I am told they will refuse.' When the Pennsylvania militiamen finally arrived in Buffalo on November 18, Smyth quickly queried their commander, Brig. Gen. Adamson Tannehill, on this point. Tannehill replied that 413 of the approximately 2,000 troops had volunteered. (**See next quote, which has a letter exchange between General Smyth and General Tannehill.)
"On November 10, Smyth issued a bombastic proclamation calling for volunteers, declaring that his troops would soon 'plant the American standard in Canada.' Nevertheless, Smyth twice embarked his troops, and twice disembarked them, without making a crossing. It did not appear that the British would have offered much opposition to a landing. In fact, while the troops were on board ships after the first embarkation, three American sailors crossed over to the opposite shore and spent two hours burning houses and stores, shooting 'fowls, ducks, and pigs,' and returned unmolested with loot taken from the houses.
"Smyth's defense was that he had been ordered by General Dearborn to make the assualt with 3,000 men and that on the first occasion he had only 1,465 men and on the second only 1,500. Although as many as 7,000 troops were in and around Buffalo, many were physically in no condition to cross over, others were in such a state of discipline that they would have been totally unreliable, and some, such as the Pennsylvania militia, simply refused to cross into Canada.
"...In the aftermath of Smyth's cancellation of the invasion, large numbers of militiamen deserted. Some 600 Pennsylvania militiamen deserted within twenty-four hours, and nearly that many left in the next few days. Discontented since their arrival, the Pennsylvanians, living in tents, had been much exposed to the weather and sickness. General Tannehill lamented that a large number of officers joined their troops in deserting. He hinted to Smyth that his remaining force (267 privates, plus officers, noncommissioned officers, and musicians) should be dismissed before they added to the exodus. He argued that to hold his force any longer, raising expenses without any benefits, 'would only be an accumulation of the same evil.' General Smyth organized the remaining force into a battalion under one of the majors and dismissed General Tannehill and the other field officers. This battalion, however, was disbanded within two weeks. The Pennsylvania militiamen contributed nothing to the campaign; their presence was in fact a disruptive element."
From "The Documentary History of the Campaign Upon the Niagara Frontier" by Ernest Alexander Cruikshank, Lundy's Lane historical society, Welland, Ontario, 1901:
"General Smyth to General Tannehill.
|
|
|
"Headquarters, Camp Near Buffalo,
"November 21st, 1812.
|
|
|
"SIR, ---- Will you be pleased to ascertain whether there are any companies of your brigade who will refuse to serve the United States in Canada.
"I deem it essential we should know on whom we may rely with confidence."
"Brigadier-General Adamson Tannehill to General Smyth.
|
|
|
"Camp at Granger's Farm,
"22nd November, 1812.
|
|
|
"SIR, ---- To enable me to answer your note of yesterday I convened my field officers in camp. The prevailing opinion appears to be that if an efficient force can be had to cross into Canada a very general embarkation of my brigade may be expected. If, on the contrary, it is difficult for me to say what number may be calculated on.
"Return of the officers and privates of the First Brigade of Pennsylvania Volunteers, under the command of Brigadier-General Adamson Tannehill, who have volunteered to cross the boundary line in the Province of Upper Canada to asist in establishing the American standard in that Province:
"First regiment of riflemen ---- Lieut.-Colonel Irwin, seven companies, 13 officers, 79 privates.
"Second regiment of riflement ---- Lieut.-Colonel Piper, seven companies, 8 officers, 133 privates.
"First regiment of infantry ---- Lieut.-Colonel Snyder, six companies, 35 privates.
"Second regiment of infantry ---- Lieut.-Colonel Pruviance, nine companies, 16 officers, 145 privates.
"Total ---- 413."
It is unclear whether Thomas was counted among any of those in the companies counted above. It appears from various sources that Thomas' service in the War of 1812 was without distinction and lasted from late September to late November, or approximately 60 days.
|
The other thing this service in the War of 1812 shows us is that Thomas, Jr. was on the move shortly after his enumeration in the 1810 census to have shown up in the Elizabeth Township Company rather than enlisting in a Fayette or Westmoreland County militia company. It is possible his appearance in the 1817, 1818 and 1819 Tyrone Township tax lists indicate he returned to Tyrone Township, Fayette County because his mother's health was poor. His appearance in the 1820 Brown County, Ohio census likely tells us that his mother has died, and he has chosen to move on with brother John (mother Nancy's narrative gives another reason for considering this possibility). Possibly John came back to say goodbye to his mother and Thomas and family went back to Ohio with him? Also, his "return" to the Elizabeth Township and neighboring Rostraver Township areas in the 1830 and 1840 censuses is understandable and may have been because his wife's family still lived there.
After their appearance in the 1850 census, they are next found in Marion Township, Davis County, Iowa in the 1856 census (page 451) where Thomas and Elizabeth along with John and his family are all living in the same household. In the 1856 special Iowa census (10 years after becoming a state), Davis County, William Forsyth (the one that married Thomas, Jr.'s daughter Polly/Mary Ann) states he has been in the state 3 years (1853), while wife Mary Ann and daughter Elizabeth state they have been in the state 2 years (1854). On the previous page of this census Thomas, Jr. and John and families are all living together and state they have all been in the state 1 year (1855). It appears William went ahead and paved the way. They had probably received word from his family who moved to neighboring Wapello County in 1851 about the productivity of the land and he decided to blaze the way for Thomas' family. William appears in the 1854 State of Iowa census Richland Township, Wapello County, page 1, along with the rest of his family. Where William's family lived (Richland Twp) and where Thomas' family and William/Polly settled (Marion Twp) are neighboring counties with the two family locations about about 25 miles apart. William did not start buying Davis County property until 1855, probably because Thomas and John went ahead and bought 160 acres of Marion Township, Davis County property, perhaps on his word that the move to Iowa was worth it. I am sure that it did not hurt that Thomas' brother John was in neighboring Appanoose County and probably writing back about its worthiness. On 5 August 1854 a deed was recorded in Westmoreland County where Thomas and John jointly paid $640 to Daniel W. and Mary Frick, also of Westmoreland County, for property in Marion Township, Davis County, Iowa. This was not entered in the Davis County records until 28 January 1887. John had started disbursing his land in 40 acre chunks and one 80 acre plot to his 4 surviving daughters, and evidently ran into trouble verifying ownership, so he had the county of Westmoreland verify in writing to Davis county his ownership. Thomas, Jr., Elizabeth, John and Mary Ann lived out their lives in Marion Township, Davis County, Iowa.
|
133. Elizabeth ?, born August 25, 1797 in New Jersey; died May 21, 1865 in Marion Township, Davis County, Iowa.
|
|
Notes for Elizabeth ?
Elizabeth's last name is unknown. As quoted in the book "The Pioneer Forsythes of Fayette County, Pennsylvania and Their Descendants" by Glenn Luther Forsythe, "She was born in New York or New Jersey in 1797. He may have met her while serving in the war of 1812 as there were no families from New York or New Jersey in the area. The couple stayed in Fayette County and probably farmed until 1855 when they moved west with their whole family. They settled in Davis County, Iowa."
He was correct about Elizabeth being born in 1797. They did move to Davis County, Iowa, but in stages as discussed in the notes for Thomas, Jr. above, and they certainly did not stay in Fayette County until 1855. In all censuses where birth location is identified and where Elizabeth could provide input (1850, 1856 and 1860) she is identified as being born in New Jersey. To say that there were no families from New Jersey in the area is extremely misleading. It may not lead me to who Elizabeth was because the source documentation just does not seem to be readily available, but there was a plethera of New Jersey immigrants in the Fayette County area to choose from, although I have not found one with an Elizabeth of the right age yet. Some examples are Reuben Skinner, George Sleasman, Benjamin Phillips, Jonathan Hill, William Barton (born 1795 - of age to be her brother) and his parents, Ephraim Vansickle, Hope Shotwell, Thomas Herbert, Henry Lane, Joseph Page, Samuel and Beulah Taylor Brown family to name the few I have found so far. Also, since Thomas seemed to be on the move after the 1810 census, I checked Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County and found in Richard T. Wiley's "Elizabeth and Her Neighbors" reference to an area called the Jersey Settlement. "Starting in about 1766 a seemingly large number of folks from Monmouth County, New Jersy migrated to what is today Elizabeth, Pennsylvania (south of Pittsburgh, in the 'tip' of the county)." At that time this area was then part of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania and jointly claimed by Virginia as Yohogania County within the District of West Augusta. Some of the New Jersey immigrant family names in the Jersey Settlement included Applegate (found in the roster of the Rifle Militia Company Thomas enlisted in), Wall, Dey/Dye, Nunro, Davidson, Halleday, Terry, Parker, Reed, Devore, Miller, McClure, Rodgers, Smith, Thompson, McConnell (also in the Rifle Company roster), Wilson (also in the Rifle Company roster), Neiley, Dunlap, Pearce, Warne, Pearse, Pangburn (also in the Rifle Company roster) and more. While many of these immigrants arrived before Elizabeth was born, it identifies many people in the area who were from New Jersey. And there is every expectation that this immigration continued through the time Elizabeth could have migrated, and beyond.
With the explanation of Thomas' limited service in the War of 1812, it is probably highly unlikely he met a girl in New York or New Jersey he would later marry. I also have other reasons to doubt this suggestion of the Forsythe book. I suspect he met and married a girl from the Jersey Settlement. First, his first child, Mary Ann, was born in January 1812 (see Mary Ann's notes) and he did not begin his service until September 1812. Secondly, since he enlisted in a militia company in Elizabeth Township, I suspicion he wandered in that direction after the 1810 census, found a girl, married her, and started a family and was already in the township when war broke out and a militia company was formed. Of course it could be that he married in Fayette County and moved with his fledgling family to Elizabeth Township just in time to enlist in the militia. Another reason for thinking the former is that Thomas "returns" to Elizabeth Township and Rostraver Township areas in 1830 and 1840.
Perhaps the item that is not absolutely clear is whether Elizabeth is Thomas' only wife or is she a second wife? With Elizabeth born in 1797 she would have been 13, going on 14, if married in 1811. The Thomas Forsythe family in 1820 Pleasant Township,Brown County, Ohio, page 383 has 1 male 0 to 10 (John, age 7), 1 male 26 to 45 (Thomas, age 29), 1 female 0 to 10 (Mary Ann, age 8), and 1 female 26 to 45 (Elizabeth would be age 23 in 1820). Assuming this is our Thomas Forsythe, could this mean the wife is not Elizabeth or does it simply mean another census taker's error? It is hard to know for certain because if you consider the 1830 Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania census (page 196) then Mary Ann is in the wrong age group. In the 1840 Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania census (page 264) again it is Elizabeth who is in the wrong age group and in the 1850 South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania census (page 281A), where Elizabeth is named and a defined age is given, she is 48 when she should be 53 based on her birthdate. With these discrepancies not easily explained I leave Thomas' wife as Elizabeth and note that age 13 is not unheard of, but certainly raises some warning flags.
Thomas and Elizabeth are buried in Glassburner Cemetery, Marion Township, Davis County, Iowa. Thomas' headstone says died January 18, 1872, aged 80 years, 26 days and Elizabeth's headstone says died May 21, 1865, aged 67 years, 8 months, 26 days. While it is possible they had other children who did not survive to show up in any census records, they only had two children that I am aware of. They worked hard to stay close as a family unit.
|
Children of Thomas Forsythe and Elizabeth ? are:
|
|
